The chief of the United Nations’s nuclear watchdog agency urged Russia and Ukraine on Monday to reach an agreement on the operation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plant facilities — a step he said has become increasingly urgent as Russian troops escalate their attacks in Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference in Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said his team has been scrambling to set up a meeting between the two countries to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s fleet of nuclear reactors.
“We should not be losing time,” Grossi said. “Almost every day, there is a new episode.”
His comments came just hours after Russian shelling destroyed an atomic physics lab in Kharkiv, including a neuron generator inside the facility. IAEA officials said they did not record a rise in radiation from the site.
Last week, Russian troops shelled Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which set fire to one of the buildings. Though there was no damage or release of radioactive materials, the IAEA said Sunday that Russian troops have since seized command of the nuclear facility, touching off concerns about operations there.
Ukraine is home to 15 nuclear reactors, all of which were operating at full or near-full capacity when Russia launched its invasion and which IAEA officials believe could pose a grave threat to the country if handled improperly.
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In a statement Sunday, Grossi expressed “grave concern” over the management of the plant. Though operations are safe, he said, “there are many, many questions on the ability to sustain this for much longer if we don’t support this in some way.”
“All of these are indications — more than indications, confirmations — that we cannot go on like this,” Grossi said. “There has to be clear understanding and clear commitments not to go anywhere near nuclear facilities when it comes to military operations.”
Nuclear facilities in other countries have been attacked before, but the assault on Ukraine marks the first time that large-scale war has ever been waged amid a fleet of sizable operational nuclear plants.
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Ukraine boasts one of the largest nuclear reactor fleets in all of Europe, second only to France.
